Brian Kelly and the LSU football staff are still looking for defensive lineman depth through the NCAA Transfer Portal.
With the spring window open for business, the Tigers have already extended their first offer, but more are on the way as the program seeks to strengthen its interior defensive line.
Kelly delivers a strong message: Stack defensive linemen through the doorway to compete in that area under new position coach Bo Davis.
“I don’t see any other positions that we need to be in the transfer portal for other than the defensive tackle position,” Kelly said at spring training.
With the spring window in full gear, the Bayou Bengals are starting to see targets emerge.
The most recent updates on LSU’s search for defensive tackles on the Transfer Portal:
Visitor: Philip Blidi (Indiana).
Blidi, one of the portal’s most desired transfers, stopped in with Brian Kelly and his team before continuing his visit schedule last week. He went to LSU after a vacation to Washington. He then travels to Oklahoma on April 19.
According to sources acquainted with Blidi’s recruiting, the colleges to keep an eye on are LSU, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M. LSU extended the graduate transfer offer before the spring transfer window started.
The veteran lineman, who has one year of eligibility remaining, is hoping to enter a situation where he can improve his draft stock and win a title.
Before his trip to LSU, Blidi was supposed to visit Arizona State, but he cancelled that trip before booking the midweek visit to Baton Rouge.
Before joining the Indiana Hoosiers, the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder played three seasons at Texas Tech. He played 34 games for the Red Raiders, recording 39 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two sacks.
In 2023, Blidi started 11 of 12 games for Indiana, recording 30 tackles, four tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, and a pass breakup.
Offer: CJ West (Kent State)
On Tuesday, Brian Kelly and Co. issued an offer to CJ West, a Kent State transfer defensive lineman and one of America’s top spring prospects.
LSU’s scholarship to West was the first awarded by the school, as the Bayou Bengals continue to look for defensive line depth.
West had offers from programs around the country, including Arkansas, Miami, and Texas A&M, among others, with Bo Davis and the Tigers joining in early.
In 36 games at Kent State over four seasons, West recorded 110 tackles, including 19.5 for loss, and seven sacks.
With seven sacks, West has led the team in total sacks in two of his four seasons with the program. During his time at Kent State, West not only played in the backfield but also deflected one pass, forced one fumble, and recovered another.
West recorded 40 tackles, seven for loss, and two sacks during his senior season in 2023.
The target: Simeon Barrow Jr. (Michigan State).
Simeon Barrow, a Michigan State defensive lineman, entered the portal on Thursday, adding a new name to LSU’s radar. According to insiders, the Tigers will chase the Spartan transfer, who is now one of the most sought-after at his position.
Barrow spent four seasons at Michigan State and is now looking for a new home for his final season of eligibility. He’ll be wined and dined during his transfer process, with LSU getting involved early.
Barrow appeared in 34 games, starting 30 of them, and finished with 110 career tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, two blocked and goals, one pass break-up, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
The Commitment: Gio Paez (Wisconsin).
LSU received a commitment from Wisconsin transfer Gio Paez before the transfer window began this week. The graduate transfer, who spent the previous four seasons with the Badgers, adds depth to this program.
Paez appeared in 13 games with six starts for Wisconsin this season, recording 23 tackles and two quarterback hurries.
The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder has appeared in 32 games and recorded 36 tackles for the Badgers over the last three seasons. Now it’s all steam ahead to Baton Rouge, where Bo Davis will coach them this summer.
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